Apparatus for avoiding moisture condensation on toilet flush tanks



Nov. 24, 1953 R. w. TQYE 2,659,898

APPARATUS FOR AvoTDTNG MOISTURE CONDENSATION oN TOILET FLUSH TANKS Filed Jan. 5, 1949 Patented Nov. 24, v1953 UNITED APPARATUS FOR AVOIDING MOISTURE CONDENSATION TANKS TOILET FLUSH VRobert W. Toye, Winona, Minn.

Application January 3, 1949, Serial No. 68,868

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for avoiding moisture condensation on toilet fixtures.

The invention is particularly concerned with a toilet flush tank and bowl, on which moisture condenses during the warm summer months and which runs down the tank and bowl and collects on the floor in unsightly and damaging puddles.

This condensation is caused by the cold water entering the toilet fixtures, whereby lowering the temperature thereof substantially below that of the humid air with the result that moisture in the air condenses on the outer surfaces of the toilet iixtures in drops which run down such surfaces and onto the floor.

This has become quite a nuisance to many housekeepers who find it necessary to frequently mop up the oor and possibly wipe the surfaces of the fixtures.

Methods have heretofore been provided to avoid collection of condensed moisture on the floor as by securing a tray beneath the toilet tank to catch the water, but no methods to my knowledge have heretofore been provided for eliminating the moisture condensation and thereby solving the whole nuisance problem.

It is accordingly a primary object of this invention to provide a method for effectively avoiding moisture condensation on toilet xtures in warm humid weather.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel and simple apparatus for efiiciently carrying the novel method into eiect.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the course of the f.

following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a toilet tank and bowl and disclosing an operative association of the improved apparatus therewith.

Fig. 2 is a section through a novel form of valve structure included in the apparatus, the section being in the plane of line 2-2 on Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is another section of the valve structure as observed in the plane of line 3-3 on Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmental enlarged portion of Fig. 2 and showing the valve in section.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the novel valve structure and which together with Figs. 2 and 3 is full scale size.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, T designates a ilush tank and B designates the bowl operatively associated therewith and into which water ows upon tripping of the control handle H.

The usual cold water tank supply pipe is in'- dicated at P and such pipe is provided with the usual shut-01T valve S. The improved method consists in tempering the cold Water entering the tank T through pipe P; or in raising the temperature of such cold water to approximately that of the atmosphere whereby" the moisture in the atmosphere will not condense on the surface of the tank and bowl and in order to eiect such method, the invention involves ai novel valve structure IU operatively connectedin the cold water pipe P either above the shut-oli valve S, or below as indicated.

The valve structure I0 comprises a housing II provided with opposite axially alined threaded sockets I2 for receiving the ends of sections embodied in the cold water pipe P.

The sockets I2 communicate with relatively small bores I3 which are axially alined with the sockets and which in turn communicate with a cylindrical valve opening I4 whose axis is transverse tothat of sockets I2 and bores I3 and which opening terminates in a flat bottom wall I4' a substantial distance below the bores I3 and the opening opens through a projecting portion Il of the housing.

The opening I4 communicates with another bore I5 whose axis is in the plane of the axis of the sockets and rst bores. The bore I5 extends axially within an extension I6 of the housing and which merges into a further co-axial extension I'I which is externally threaded and is provided with a bore I8 somewhat larger than and co-axial with bore I5".

A length of tubing 20 which is adapted to extend to and be in communication with a constant hot water supply has an internal diameter equal to the diameter of bore I8 and an end of such tubing abuts the end of extension II and is secured in position by means of a nut I9, the tubing having a bevelled end portion 20' clamped between corresponding bevels on the extension I1 and nut I9.

A cylindrical valve 2l is supported in opening I4 for rotation about its axis. The valve includes an integral co-axial stem 22 of reduced diameter whereby providing a circular shoulder 2 I on the valve and the valve is removably maintained in the opening I4 by means of a nut 23 within which is compressed apacking 24 which seals the valve against leaking as well as providing sufficient friction for maintaining the valve in any predetermined adjusted position about its axis.

The valve stem 22 is iluted as at 25 and is re- 3 ceived in a uted opening in the hub 26 of a handle 21. The handle is releasably held on the stem by means of a screw 28 which draws the uted hub onto the slightly bevelled fluted end of the stem 22.

The handle hub 26 is provided with a threaded socket 29 Whose bottom provides a shoulder for the head of screw 28 and a nut 3D is threaded into the socket. The nut 36 is provided with a central threaded bore 3I for receiving a screw 32 which frictionally holds a pointer 33 in any desired set position.

The lower end of valve 2l seats on the4 bottom walls Il of opening I4 and the valve is cut out at 34 providing a substantial passage adjacent the plane of bores I3 and I5 and the cu-t out lprovides a segment 35 as is clearly indicated in Fig. 4.

The lower end of the valve is providedywith a concentric channel 36 of substantially 180 extent and a pin '31 or other projection from 'the bottomwall I4" Aof opening: :Ulis engaged in; said channel, the cooperating pin and channel Drovi'ding for rotation of the'y valve andI the valve being 'limited' 'iin itsrotation by engagement of the pin with oner orthe other of the ends of theE channel.,

The improved valve structure as above de,-A scribedmay easily be incorporated in the cold water supply pipe P bya plumber and the conduit 22); is 4extendedto a constant hot water supply as fory example an` automatic gas heated tank which at present exists'- in mostv homes;

'In assembling they apparatus, theI hot water admission bore or port I will always be open to thecut: out 34 in the valve and the valve will be rotated to such, extent that the flow of cold water through bores or ports; I3 will be controlled bythe segment 3.5 which inl Fig. 4 is shown as closing substantiallyV one half of a port I 3. By proper adjustment of the valve the water entering the tank maybe kept at about 80F. which would approximate that of the atmosphere` in summer months.

When the valve has been set for the proper temperature, the pointer 33 Will be set extending upwardly inthe axis of pipe P asY indicated inEig- 1. Should the weather become less humid the, valve may be turned clockwise until pin 31' engages`V one end of channel 36 and in which positionA the port I5 will be closed thereby saving hotwater and should the humid` weather return, the valve may be, turned counterclockwiseY to a position wherein the pointer again alines; with pipeP--asin Fig. 1'.

While I have disclosed ,my invention in accordance with a single specific embodiment-theme. of, such is to be considered as illustrative only and notv restrictive, the scope of the invention being defined in the sub-joined claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by U. S. Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for tempering cold water admitted through a supply pipe to a flush tank whereby to raise the temperature of the external Wall of the tank to prevent condensation of moisture from a humid atmosphere thereon, which comprises a, valve structure in the supply pipe, a conduit extending from a hot water source and having an end thereof connected to and in communication with the valve structure and a valve ink such Structure Voperative to vary the relative volumes, Oi het`Y and cold water passing through the valve structure and suppiy pipe to the tankl said valve structure comprises a housing havin an elongated cylindrical valve receiving open-I ingA thereinand which is closed at one end by a' Hat wall, the 'housing having axially alined threaded Sockets for connection in the supply pipe, axially alined ports communicating with said sockets 'andupenn-1gy above.; said: 'bottom wall, the: said opening and ports providing; for passage of cold water through the: val-ve structure, a further por-thawing one 'end `thereof communicating with said opening and having its: axis at rig-ht anglesl to the axesA of /saidirst portsand in the. plane, of.A saidv axis, a; het, Water supply conduitv communicating with the other end of said. last port, and said valve .beingoff cylindrical form and bei-ng rotatablysupportedrin, said opening and including a reliefA and a segment adjacent the plane, of said ports for controlling; thel relative volumes oi .hot andl coldwater passing4 throughA the valve. structure,4

2. The structure according to-claim 1 wherein the inner end, of .said cylindrical valve is provided with a circular channel. having closed ends, a pin projectingrom said flatwall and-engaged in said channel, and said' pin being, engageable with one or the other -osaid channel; ends to limit rotary adjustmentV ofl theY valve; clockwise and counter-clockwise.direction.

3,. TheY structure-according to claim 1 whereinl said valve is provided with. a coaxial, stem, a

r handle removably supported by the stem, and. a

pointer adjustablyY supported bv rfriel-iandle.`

ROBERT Vl/T.` TOYE.

References Cited' in, the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 841,817 Ricketts Jan. 22, 1907 904,307 Chandler Nov. 17, 1908 988,504 Pride Apr. 4', 1911 1,183,544 Dittrich May 16; 1916 1,612,854 Broido Jan. 4, '1927 2,110,952 Glenn Mar. 15, 1938 2,412,809 Harlow Dec. 17, 1946 2,465,866 Gaines Mar. 29, 1949i 2,527,418 Harrington Oct. 24', 1950' 

